After a tight clash between moderate and progressive Democratic ideals in Michigan, progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed defeated U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, becoming the nominee to face Republican Mike Rogers in the Fall.

The former Detroit public health official, who had made Israel and Gaza main focal points in his candidacy, narrowly overcame Stevens, who ran a moderate approach, highlighting her experience in Congress and investing in STEM and job training pipelines in Michigan.

Throughout Tuesday night, the two maintained a close 1% to 2% margin. Both El-Sayed and Stevens took to the stage early Wednesday to deliver their remarks against their Republican rival, with El-Sayed calling for unity on both sides before the eventual clash later this year.

"Tomorrow we begin to mend fences," he said. "Whatever happens tonight, we have a responsibility, for sure, that we unite to make sure ​that Mike Rogers never sees the inside of the U.S. Senate."

In response to the close race on X, Rogers said, “The Democratic Party has been lost to extremists. Full stop.”

Rogers, in recent interviews, said that the Democratic Party is being pulled too far left because of progressives, and that it will open up the opportunity for a Republican to take the Michigan Senate seat in November.

Regardless of the outcome, El-Sayed has another job in addition to his fight for the Senate seat: building bridges between progressives and moderates in the Democratic Party, as the bitter campaign against Stevens has further revealed the growing divide.